"I am a princess. All girls are. Even if they live in tiny old attics. Even if they dress in rags, even if they aren't pretty, or smart, or young. They're still princesses. All of us. Didn't your father ever tell you that? Didn't he?"~ A Little Princess

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Monday, 30 December 2013

This post was originally featured on Dancestuffbut I wanted to share it on here too. So many people ask me 'what's a good dance school' and although I'd love to always recommend my own school, sometimes what I have to offer them just wouldn't suit, or we're simply not in the right area. So here is my guide to choosing the right dance school:

There are many great dance schools on the Central Coast, each with
their own unique way of running. At Dancestuff we are constantly asked
for recommendations for dance schools. We support all the local studios
and recognise that each school has something special to offer the world
of dance. We've created this post to help parents and students when they
are searching for a new school.
With the new year just around the corner, and many new and existing
students searching for a studio, we've put together this list to help.
Before selecting your new studio, there are a couple of things you need to ask yourself;

What kind of dance experience are you looking for?
Are you after a fun and exciting form of exercise? A new hobby? Do
you want to make a career out of dance? Do you love the social aspect of
your dance classes?
It helps to know what you are hoping to achieve with your time at the
studio, as each studio is targeted slightly differently. Some schools
have separate programmes for students hoping to pursue a dance career.
Some cater specifically for recreational students. There are schools
with a mix of both, that have both streams integrated together, schools
that are geared towards young children and schools that are heavily
involved with competitions and community events. It is important to know
what kind of school you are looking for rather than just asking ‘what
is a good dance school?’

What styles do you want to learn?
Do you absolutely love jazz but can’t stand the thought of doing
ballet? Some schools require students to take on ballet to help
strengthen their other styles. Are you hoping to perform in musicals, be
a back-up dancer or join a ballet company? These career paths all have
different skills required and it is important to find a school that can
help you in your chosen area.
What about just learning for fun? Just going to dance with your
friends? Many students take up dance as a simple hobby, without the idea
of making a lasting career out of it, and that is absolutely fine.
Having fun is so important in your dance classes, but you also want to
be progressing, don’t you? Imagine you started learning guitar and on
the first week you could play Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. What
if, several years later you were still learning and could still only
play that one little tune? Would it still be fun? Dance is the same.
It’s great to learn for fun, but part of the fun is mastering a new
skill or getting better at something you couldn’t do before. After all,
that’s what we pay our dance teachers for… to teach dance. Make sure the
school you’re looking for will still teach the ‘just for fun’ kids what
they should be learning to ensure the ‘fun’ experience remains fun.

How far are you willing to travel?
With so many schools on the Central Coast, it can be overwhelming to
pick the right one for your family. Another important question could be
how far are you willing to travel? If you don’t want to go far, have a
look at the schools in your suburb and surrounding suburbs, ask your
children’s friends which schools they attend. But if you’re willing to
go a little further, there are many schools around and you may find one
that is perfect for your needs in the next postcode.After you’ve worked out the kind of dance experience you’re
looking for, there are some very important questions to put to the
principals of the schools you approach.

Things to ask the schools you approach:

What are your class sizes? This one is more
important to some people than others. Ask if the studio caps the class
sizes, or provides an additional teacher or assistant to a class that
exceeds a certain capacity. Remember these teachers are responsible for
multiple children at a time, it is important to see that they are able
to give the appropriate level of supervision to the students in their
classes.

Are your teachers qualified? Again the answer to
this question can be very varied. There are all sorts of qualifications
around, some are specific teaching qualifications, some are performance
qualifications. If this is an important issue for you, please check with
the principal of your school.

Do your staff have Working with Children Checks? This
is such an important practice today. All adults working with and around
children are required by law to have these checks done. Check with the
principal when you’re researching your schools.

What is your costuming like? Many parents are
disappointed with the costuming on their children in end of year
concerts and eisteddfods. If appropriate costuming is an important
issue for you, ask to see some costuming from previous years for similar
age groups. Some schools have different policies in place when
selecting their costuming.

Is music and choreography age appropriate? The way
our children are portrayed on stage can be a very sensitive issue. Is it
important to you that your child is not only dancing to age appropriate
music, but is also doing movement that is appropriate? Check with other
parents in the school, ask about their previous concerts or call the
local theatre to see if this is right for you.

What are your fees like? Every school sets their
fees differently and it is important to check these before signing up.
Many schools also have additional fees such as costume purchasing or
hire and competition entry fees. Ask about these before you sign up so
you have a good indication of how much you’ll be expected to pay.

What is your uniform? Check what the uniform
standard will be like in your new school. Dancestuff caters for all
schools on the Central Coast and beyond and can provide dancewear for
all styles of dance. Check to see what your children will be needing at
their new studio.

Keep in mind this is by no means a full list of the things you
should be asking, it is designed as a guide to help students and parents
find the right studio for them. Remember learning to dance is a
beautiful journey that creates fabulous memories. It is important to
find the right dance family for you and your kids

Wednesday, 18 December 2013

Once again, I find myself at the crazy end of the year. The time when I forget to eat dinner, don't have time for breathing and become completely absent from all social events... Concert time!

This year I've been busy in more ways than I could have imagined. Not
only do I have the stress and headache of organising my own studios concert,
but it's also been insanely busy in my shop as I now have to cater for
all the other local schools which are having their concerts too!

To add to this hectic time, I also made the rather silly decision to
hold my wedding just after concert time... expressions of sympathy will
be accepted now.

Lately I've been waking up exhausted. My to-do list is a bottomless pit of errands and every day it grows.

Soon
though, I will have a little tiny glimpse of peace. Our concert is on
Saturday, my store closes on Monday and I have a few days of calm to
finish planning my wedding!

I wish you all a fabulous 'silly season' and keep my fingers crossed for you that it isn't as silly as mine!

About Me

Dance teacher, tea drinker, book lover, shoe enthusiast. Unashamedly obsessed with fictional worlds.
Principal of Elite Dance Studios and Owner/Manager of Dancestuff. Currently studying a Bachelor of Arts and Business through the University of New England.